Ontario Apostille Services: What Is an Apostille and How Can We Help?

If you have a Canadian document that needs to be used outside of Canada, you may be asked to obtain an apostille before the document will be accepted by a foreign government, court, school, employer, or other organization.

At Affordable Markham Notary Public, we help clients prepare their Ontario documents for apostille.

What Is an Apostille?

An apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document so that it can be recognized in another country that is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention.

An apostille does not confirm that the contents of a document are true. Instead, it generally authenticates the signature, seal, or capacity of the person or official who signed or issued the document.

For example, an apostille may be required for documents such as:

• Affidavits and statutory declarations

• Notarized documents

• Powers of attorney

• Birth, marriage, or death certificates

• Educational documents

• Corporate and business documents

• Court documents

• Documents intended for use in foreign countries

The exact requirements depend on the type of document and the country where it will be used.

Does My Document Need an Apostille?

If you have been asked by a foreign government, consulate, lawyer, school, employer, or other organization to provide an authenticated Canadian document, you may need an apostille.

Canada's apostille system came into effect on January 11, 2024, when Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention. Ontario documents that fall within the provincial authentication process are handled through the Ontario Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement.

It is important to determine whether your document requires a provincial apostille or whether it falls under the federal authentication process.

How Much Does an Apostille Cost in Ontario?

Our apostille service fees start at $150 + HST for the first document.

Additional documents are $50 + HST each.

The total cost may depend on the type of document, whether notarization is required, the number of documents, and applicable government and/or translation fees.

Please contact us before submitting your documents so we can confirm the applicable fees and requirements for your particular situation.

How Long Does the Apostille Process Take?

Processing times can vary depending on the type of document, the authentication requirements, and the current processing volume of the relevant government office.

If you have a deadline for a foreign application, transaction, or appointment, we recommend starting the process as early as possible.

Apostille vs. Notarization

A notarization and an apostille are not the same thing.

A notary public can perform certain acts such as witnessing signatures, administering oaths, taking affidavits and statutory declarations, and certifying copies where legally permitted.

An apostille, on the other hand, is an authentication issued by the appropriate government authority for documents intended for use internationally.

In some cases, you may need both services. For example, you may first need to have a document notarized by an Ontario notary and then have the notarial signature authenticated and apostilled by the appropriate authority.

Do I Need a Translation?

If your document is going to be used in a country where a different language is required, you may also need a certified translation.

Translation requirements vary depending on the receiving country and organization. An apostille does not replace a translation requirement.

If you need a translated document apostilled, it is important to determine the correct order of notarization, translation, and apostille before proceeding.

Countries That Accept Apostilles

The apostille system applies between countries that are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention.

However, each country may have its own requirements regarding the documents it accepts, translations, notarization, and how recent a document must be.

Before obtaining an apostille, we recommend confirming the requirements with the organization or authority that will receive your document.

Need an Apostille in Ontario?

If you need an Ontario document apostilled for use outside Canada, Affordable Markham Notary Public can help you navigate the process.

We provide provincial apostille services starting at $150 + HST for the first document, with additional documents at $50 + HST each.